Right-of-Way Accidents

Many of us have the experience of sitting in a busy intersection, when a motorist approaching in the opposite direction is attempting to make a left turn through what seems like a solid line of cars. In this situation, it is common for the turning driver to look at one of the cars in the line of traffic in hopes of getting some feedback about whether it is safe to proceed with the turn.

In a recent personal injury case, the court had to determine if a defendant’s “wave on” gesture was the cause of an accident that injured the plaintiff. The case is important for Maryland car accident victims to understand because it illustrates how Maryland courts may interpret the causation element of a personal injury case.

The Facts of the Case

The plaintiff was an on-duty police officer returning to the police barracks. The plaintiff was traveling westbound, and as he approached the barracks parking lot, he needed to make a left hand turn across two eastbound lanes of traffic. The defendant was traveling on the same road in the opposite direction.

Earlier this week near Havre de Grace, a two-vehicle accident on Route 155 sent three people to the hospital. According to a report by the Baltimore Sun, the accident occurred at 5:06, near where Route 155 meets Paradise Road.

Evidently, a woman driving in a Toyota Corolla was heading west on Route 155 when she tried to make a left onto Paradise Road. However, she failed to yield to an oncoming eastbound truck. The truck struck the Corolla in the middle of the passenger side of the vehicle, causing it to spin into the intersection. The truck careened out of control for a few moments before running off the road and up an embankment. The truck finally overturned, trapping the occupants inside.

The woman driving the Corolla was also trapped inside her vehicle and needed to wait for emergency crews to help get her out. She sustained a head injury and was admitted into a nearby hospital. The other driver, as well as his passenger, were also taken to the hospital for the injuries they sustained in the accident. Everyone is expected to survive.

Articles Posted in Right-of-Way Accidents

Court Determines Defendant’s “Wave On” Gesture to Plaintiff Was Not the Proximate Cause of Subsequent Car Accident

Three Hospitalized in Route 155 Roll-Over Accident